Sports conference a boost to Singapore's hub status

For two days next month, Singapore will play host to a range of movers and shakers as they plot the way forward for sport in Asia.

To be held at the St Regis on Sept 18 and 19, the inaugural Sports Matters conference will bring together a who's who in the business of sport.

These include broadcasters, sponsors, governing bodies and other industry experts.

On the cards are keynote addresses by the likes of Women's Tennis Association chairman Stacey Allaster, World Sport Group chief Andrew Georgiou, as well as Singapore GP executive director Michael Roche.

Organisers are also set to launch an Asian Sponsorship Association on Day Two, after sessions centring on TV and sponsorship matters.

"The sponsorship sector in Asia has been relatively stagnant for the past 20 years," Jasper Donat, chief executive of Sports Matters co-producer Branded, said on Thursday.

"The Asian Sponsorship Association will inject vibrancy and sophistication to this sector to help energise event partners and sports associations in Asia to boost their appeal."

In the shorter term, the decision to host the inaugural conference in the Republic is a boost to Singapore's hopes of establishing itself as a hub for sporting events.